Bill Belichick shies away from Richard Seymour trade questions

FOXBOROUGH (AP) -- Bill Belichick is focusing on his first season without Richard Seymour and not why he traded him.

Two days after New England sent the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end to the Oakland Raiders, the Patriots coach said Tuesday he wouldn't answer questions about Seymour because the team doesn't have the rights to him.

Belichick praised Seymour's play but said he wouldn't address whether the deal was completed after Seymour didn't report to Oakland on Monday. Raiders coach Tom Cable said that Seymour had to resolve some things with the Patriots before the trade could be finalized.

Belichick's comments on a conference call were his first since the team traded Seymour on Sunday for Oakland's 2011 first-round draft pick.